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The Survivor

Bipin Joshi deflected a grenade from militant forces before being captured in the assault on Israel two years ago, reveals the fellow Nepalese student he rescued.

"My survival may not have endured if both grenades had detonated. Bipin exhibited courage and threw the device out," Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary shared with media outlets.

He was speaking after the Israeli military identified his companion's body as being among four dead captives handed back by Hamas under the recent truce agreement.

Bipin was 23 and working on a kibbutz when he was seized by Hamas into captivity along with numerous individuals on 7 October 2023. It remains unknown the circumstances of he died.

His family and friends prayed right up to the negotiation cutoff that he could be among living hostages returned on 13 October, but he was not, and a subsequent day their deepest concerns were confirmed.

The Attack

The student, his friend and fifteen other Nepalese agriculture students had been in Israel for just over a short period when their residence was attacked.

"The students were aware that there may be a war in Israel. But we had little expectation that there could be any physical assault of that scale," Dhan Bahadur said. "They thought that there could be aerial strikes and we would be protected if we stay below ground, in the shelters."

For the students who'd been invited under the national "Earn and Learn Programme" it was a great chance to improve circumstances for their futures and their loved ones in Nepal.

The survivor attributes his survival to Bipin's courage.

"During of the assault, two grenades were launched near the bunkers. He [Bipin] grabbed one and threw it away; another detonated within. Due to that explosion, I and several companions were injured," he says.

"Bipin was unharmed at that point. If the two grenades had exploded, I certainly would not have been speaking with you today."

10 of the Nepalese individuals were killed in the attack. Their companion was the sole person taken hostage.

"The friends saw each other for the final occasion when Bipin and others were being shifted to another shelter," the survivor says. "Because, after the injury, I and I stayed in the first shelter. I came to know that there were two attacks in the shelter where he took shelter and was was held captive from there."

From Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary

Personal Memories

The survivor says he experiences deeply saddened after hearing about his colleague's death. He and Bipin were classmates in their educational institution in their hometown, Nepal.

"His friends undertook every efforts from our perspective to ensure his freedom. We did all we could. But yesterday, we had to face such devastating news. The entire nation is in mourning. I cannot comprehend how to express. Truly have limited expression to describe my sadness."

The survivor explains his friend and fellow students had the same aspiration of making modest earnings and establishing their personal business after coming back from the exchange programme in Israel.

"He enjoyed participating in soccer and basketball. We would converse for extended periods about our goals and dreams. My friend desired to get his physique in good shape and to buy a latest mobile phone. We even recorded a song about friendship with my phone. Bipin also talked about presenting himself in a visual production."

The Survivor

Recent Developments

On 14 October, the Israeli military stated they believed Bipin Joshi was "killed in detention during the initial period of the conflict". There exists no way of externally confirming that.

But should this be the case, Dhan Bahadur commented, the global authorities should ask Hamas about why it occurred.

The survivor mentioned he had lacked any assistance from national authorities following his injury but hoped the host nation would help his friend's relatives.

The student's immediate family members have withheld any comment to date.

Footage from the attack date depicted him moving inside al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. The family received no signs of survival for a year, until the authorities shared a recording of him in detention around that period.

Relatives characterized the footage as "evidence of survival" just hours before the truce agreement was agreed, and were praying for a miracle.

Currently in his hometown of Bhimdutta municipality the student's loved ones are mourning after receiving news of his passing.

Hostages and Missing Families Forum

Family Situation

The student's female relatives had gone to the US to lobby for the freedom of captives, Bipin's relative family member informed news sources.

The relative says the household has limited expression to explain the sorrow. "His female relatives are coming back from America on Thursday. The father is unable to articulate the suffering in language."

Meanwhile it remains unclear when the student's remains will be repatriated to his family.

Israel is making all necessary arrangements to return his body to Nepal, as it did for the other students who died, the country's government department announced.

"We are completely shocked by the information of the student's demise. In this period of grief [we] offer our {deep|pro